Self-Study for External Academic Review
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Self-Study for External Academic Review February 2012 COLLEGE OF AGRICULTURE AND LIFE SCIENCES DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURAL ECONOMICS INTRODUCTION AND CHARGE TO THE EXTERNAL REVIEW TEAM This self-study document was prepared by a faculty committee of the Department of Agricultural Economics. The committee drew data from many sources and engaged faculty, staff and students in the process of distilling and describing the important issues outlined in the report. This Academic Program Review is closely coordinated with the review of the Intercollegiate Faculty of Agribusiness and is being conducted by one External Review Team so that the many shared resources and joint objectives can be evaluated in a more complete fashion. This self-study document is focused on the four degree programs under the direct control of the Department of Agricultural Economics. While there is a chapter which provides descriptive information on the two degree programs of the Intercollegiate Faculty of Agribusiness, the full self-study for that Faculty and its degree programs is contained in a separate document. Copied below is the charge by the Provost to the External Review Team. While the review is focused mainly on our academic degree programs, information is also provided relating to research and extension as these responsibilities of our department are closely intertwined with teaching activities and help provide context for the external team’s evaluation. Charge to the Peer Review Team Department of Agricultural Economics and Intercollegiate Faculty of Agribusiness Academic Program Review This letter provides you with an introduction to the degree programs offered by the Department of Agricultural Economics and the Intercollegiate Faculty of Agribusiness at Texas A&M University, and explains the expectations for our upcoming external review. The IFA is an interdisciplinary program, administered through the Provost’s office and includes faculty from the Department of Agricultural Economics and the Mays School of Business. As interdisciplinary degrees, the IFA degrees are considered university degrees and not awarded by either of the Colleges This is a coordinated review of four degree programs offered by the Department of Agricultural Economics and two degrees by the Intercollegiate Faculty of Agribusiness (IFA).The Review Team is asked to provide a review of these degree programs recognizing that they are offered by two different entities. Both the Department and the IFA are included in this coordinated review, recognizing the essential linkages between them in terms of resources, course offerings and faculty. Two of the six-member review team are designated to lead the IFA component of the review. The Review Team should separately address these two administrative programs and their degrees in two reports. The work of the committee and its schedule during its visit will be coordinated in a way that allows for this separate assessment and such the unique shared issues can be addressed. 600 John Kimbrough Blvd., Suite 309 2124 TAMU College Station, Texas 77843-2124 Tel. 979.845.2116 Fax. 979.862.1563 http://agecon.tamu.edu There are four (4) degrees currently offered by the Department of Agricultural Economics: a Bachelor of Science in Agricultural Economics, a Bachelor of Science in Agribusiness, thesis and non-thesis options in the Master of Science in Agricultural Economics, and a Doctor of Philosophy in Agricultural Economics. The IFA offers two degrees, a Master of Agribusiness (MAB) and a recently established Doctor of Philosophy in Agribusiness and Managerial Economics. The charts below provide information on the number of degrees the department has awarded over the last six years. Agricultural Economics Degrees Awarded Annually Degree Offered 04-05 05-06 06-07 07-08 08-09 09-10 10-11 B.S. in AgEcon 104 116 97 119 132 146 149 B.S. in Agribusiness 52 27 37 60 60 82 91 M.S. (non-thesis) 2 3 2 8 13 4 10 M.S.(thesis) 7 5 15 4 6 4 14 Ph.D 10 4 7 8 7 13 10 Intercollegiate Faculty of Agribusiness Degrees Awarded Annually Degree Offered 04-05 05-06 06-07 07-08 08-09 09-10 10-11 Master of Agribusiness 23 18 22 15 13 18 23 Ph.D in Agribusiness & The degree has not been in place sufficient time for degree to be awarded Managerial Economics This activity is part of a periodic review of all Texas A&M University academic programs, and offers an opportunity to assess the standards of the programs and to learn from review team members’ experiences with similar programs. The review team is requested to examine the undergraduate program, the graduate program, and the teaching and research programs for graduate and undergraduate students of the Department of Agricultural Economics and the Intercollegiate Faculty of Agribusiness using the materials in a self-study that will be provided, information you gain through personal interactions while visiting Texas A&M University, and any additional information that you might request. While evaluating the program, please consider the allocation of resources within the department and the IFA (both human and fiscal) and the absolute level of support the department and the IFA receives from the university. Please comment as appropriate on current and potential leveraging of these resources, as well as the current and potential interaction with other departments and groups, both on campus and off. Please address the issue of learning-based outcomes: Does the department and IFA have ongoing and integrated planning and evaluation processes that assess its programs and services, that result in continuing improvement, and that demonstrate that each entity is effectively accomplishing its mission? Has the department and IFA identified expected outcomes for its educational programs? Does the department and IFA have evidence of improvement based upon analysis of results? Lastly, please address the department’s and IFA’s contributions to two guiding strategic initiatives developed by Texas A&M University. The first of these is a document developed in 1999, entitled Vision 2020: Creating a Culture of Excellence, and identifies twelve specific areas of focus for Texas A&M’s future. The other is the more recent Action 2015, intended to build on our gains made since the inception of Vision 2020. Both documents may be referenced at http://provost.tamu.edu/strategic-planning-2010 Summaries of both documents will be provided upon your arrival at Texas A&M University. Along with the Provost’s Office, our department faculty, staff and students welcome you to campus and thank you for sharing your expertise and time with us by doing this review. John P. Nichols Professor and Head January 2012 TABLE OF CONTENTS Self-Study Overview ....................................................................................................................... 1 Drive to Excellence ......................................................................................................................... 2 Overall Perspective of Department Programs ................................................................................. 3 Teaching Programs ......................................................................................................................... 4 Research Programs.......................................................................................................................... 7 Extension Programs ........................................................................................................................ 8 Personnel and Budgets .................................................................................................................... 9 Issues Summary ............................................................................................................................ 12 Overall Perspective of Department Programs ........................................................................... 12 Teaching Programs .................................................................................................................... 12 Research Programs .................................................................................................................... 12 Extension Programs................................................................................................................... 12 Personnel and Budgets .................................................................................................................. 13 Issues Ranking .............................................................................................................................. 13 Department Overview ................................................................................................................... 16 Vision, Mission, and Strategic Plan .......................................................................................... 16 Goals and Priority Objectives ................................................................................................... 16 Goals ...................................................................................................................................... 16 Priority Objectives ................................................................................................................. 17 A Brief History of the Department of Agricultural Economics ................................................ 18 Historical Timeline ................................................................................................................ 19 Research